On 28th May 2013, Turkish police burned the tents of 50 environmentalists camped out in Taksim Square. What started as a peaceful sit-in to protect one of Istanbul’s last public parks began spiralling out of control. In the face of water cannon, tear gas and rubber bullets, over 3.5 million people took to the streets to protest.

Taksim Square is a new musical about the small patch of land which sparked a national crisis. Written and directed by the Arcola’s Artistic Director Mehmet Ergen, and featuring music from the demonstrations themselves, it is a savage, hilarious and timely attack on censorship, corruption and the brutality of the powerful.

Following an explosive run at Talimhane Tiyatrosu in Istanbul, Taksim Square transfers to the Arcola as part of the 2015 Orient Express season.

“Taksim Square cannot be an area where extremists are running wild.” — Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Prime Minister of Turkey (2003-2014)